This position is located in News Section I, News and Content Branch, News and Media Division (NMD) of the Department of Global Communications (DGC). The News Section produces daily news and feature stories, programmes, special series and creates audio content using live and recorded audio from meetings and events, and multimedia pieces for the UN News digital platform, incorporating audio and video elements, as well as social media content. Through these products UN News provide daily and weekly content in nine (9) languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Kiswahili and Hindi). The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Unit.
Within delegated authority, the Public Information Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
• Monitors and analyzes current events, public opinion and press, identifies issues and trends, and advises management on appropriate action/responses.
• Researches and produces news and multimedia feature materials, as well as audio content including podcasts, on system-wide UN activities for posting on the UN News website and inclusion in other news-related products of the News Section.
• Ensures timely and accurate coverage of key United Nations developments at Headquarters and around the world, including through regular weekend duty shifts and evenings as needed.
• Undertakes activities to promote media coverage (e.g. interviews and other special activities) of priority issues and/or major events, to include development of a media strategy and action plan which factors in the targeted dissemination of material to different audiences
in different time-zones, initiating pro-active outreach efforts, proposing and arranging media coverage, disseminating materials and undertaking appropriate follow-up action and analyzing and reporting on the impact of coverage.
• Produces or oversees production of multimedia feature stories that incorporate original video clips and embedded video from the wider UN system, whenever possible, as well as working in close and quick coordination with the UN News editor and team members, Social Media team, UNIFEED, UN Photo and iSeek to share interviews/backgrounders, latest photos and other visuals for the story.
• Prepares, on the basis of official UN documentation and other sources, drafts of news stories, under the direction of senior editorial staff, and provides assistance in developing, generating, assigning and editing news and multimedia feature materials.
• Monitors a wide range of UN developments and news sources, including official press releases, statements, news conferences, briefings and meetings of various bodies; conducting interviews and transcribing recordings of various press encounters, as necessary, for use as source material.
• Reviews the performance of UN News through multiple channels to optimize story-telling and audience-focused communications, and package content in new ways, building on good practices that can be replicated by all teams.
• Strengthens distribution practices and search engine optimization across all languages and formats to ensure broader and engaged audiences.
• Monitors performance of UN News websites using analytics and social media metrics, as well as distribution via Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, and Mailchimp, and responds to requests for reports, ranging from annual reporting to intergovernmental bodies to real-time thematic and other reports.
• Initiates and sustains professional relationships with key constituencies.
• Helps maintain and update content of the entire UN News Centre website, including In Focus pages, interviews and photo stories, as well as related new media sites.
• Acts as focal point on specific issues, monitoring and reporting on developments, responding to inquiries, etc.
• Participates in selecting the information transmitted to key constituencies.
• Provides guidance to, and may supervise, more junior staff.
• Undertakes other assignments as required.
Professionalism: Knowledge of digital journalism; political awareness and judgment, and knowledge of international current affairs; ability to work under pressure and meet multiple daily deadlines. Knowledge of digital editing technology and of multimedia platforms. Ability to write crisply and concisely, making use of sound and words, and to produce audio and video products for news platforms. Knowledge of the full range of communications approaches, tools, and methodologies essential to planning and executing effective campaign strategies and programmes, e.g. campaign management, media operations, marketing and promotion, audience outreach, message targeting. Ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources. Ability to identify public affairs issues, opportunities and risks in an international environment. Ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and cultivate productive relationships. Knowledge of relevant internal policies and business activities/issues. Ability to produce a variety of written communications products in a clear, concise style. Ability to deliver oral presentations to various audiences. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related area is required.
Experience drafting and writing news and feature stories with multimedia elements for online platforms is required.
Experience in managing social media content for news platforms, compiling audio and web analytics and social media metrics to provide feedback to internal teams on performance of feature content is required.
Experience in the technical aspects of multimedia production, such as producing audio interviews, podcasts and broadcast programmes, filming and editing short news video pieces is desirable.
Experience working with UN agency entities to identify story-telling opportunities within the complex demands of campaigns and conference reporting while working with the demands of the news cycle is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
• This position is temporarily available for initial period of six (6) months with possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
• Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.
• The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
• For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 December 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.
Aux termes du paragraphe 3 de l’Article 101 de la Charte des Nations Unies, la considération dominante dans le recrutement du personnel doit être la nécessité d’assurer à l’Organisation les services de personnes possédant les plus hautes qualités de travail, de compétence et d’intégrité. Ne seront pas retenues les candidatures des personnes qui ont commis des violations du droit international des droits de l’homme, des violations du droit international humanitaire, des actes d’exploitation, d’atteintes ou de harcèlement sexuels, ou au sujet desquelles il existe des raisons plausibles de croire qu’elles ont été impliquées dans la commission de tels actes. L’expression « exploitation sexuelle » désigne le fait d’abuser ou de tenter d’abuser d’un état de vulnérabilité, d’un rapport de force inégal ou de rapports de confiance à des fins sexuelles, y compris mais non exclusivement en vue d’en tirer un avantage pécuniaire, social ou politique. On entend par « atteinte sexuelle » toute atteinte physique de nature sexuelle commise par la force, sous la contrainte ou à la faveur d’un rapport inégal, ou la menace d’une telle atteinte. Le harcèlement sexuel s'entend de tout comportement déplacé à connotation sexuelle raisonnablement propre ou de nature à choquer ou humilier, lorsqu'il entrave la bonne marche du service, est présenté comme une condition d'emploi ou crée au lieu de travail un climat d'intimidation, d'hostilité ou de vexation, et lorsque ce comportement est assez grave pour justifier le licenciement de son auteur. La candidature de personnes qui ont commis des infractions autres que des infractions mineures au code de la route ne sera pas retenue.
Sera dûment prise en considération l'importance d'un recrutement effectué sur une base géographique aussi large que possible. Aucune restriction ne sera imposée par l'Organisation à l'accès des hommes et des femmes, dans des conditions égales, à toutes les fonctions, dans ses organes principaux et subsidiaires. Le Secrétariat de l'Organisation des Nations Unies est un espace non-fumeurs.
La considération dominante dans l’engagement, la mutation ou la promotion du personnel est la nécessité de s’assurer les services de personnes possédant les plus hautes qualités de travail, de compétence et d’intégrité. En acceptant une offre d’engagement, les membres du personnel sont soumis(es) à l’autorité du Secrétaire général, qui peut leur assigner l’une quelconque des tâches ou l’un quelconque des postes de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, conformément à l’alinéa c) de l’article 1.2 du Statut du personnel. Dans ce contexte, tous les membres du personnel recrutés sur le plan international sont tenus de changer de fonctions périodiquement à l’intérieur d’un même lieu d’affectation ou dans un autre lieu d’affectation, dans les conditions fixées par le Secrétaire général.
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